Secretary General (SG) of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Indra Mani Pandey, has visited Myanmar recently and discussed regional cooperation under BIMSTEC, especially in enhancing security cooperation, regional connectivity including digital and people-to-people connectivity.

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Myanmar is one of the seven member States of the BIMSTEC and leads regional cooperation in the Agriculture and Food Security Sector and Fisheries and Livestock Sub-sector. Myanmar joined as a member of the BIMSTEC in December 1997.

The Secretary General paid his first visit to Myanmar during July 22-27 and participated in the 4th meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs.

He called on the Heads of Delegation of the BIMSTEC member States participating in the meeting, according to the BIMSTEC.

Pandey joined the Heads of Delegation of the member States participating at the 4th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs in the Courtesy Call on Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister of Myanmar.

During his visit, Pandey called on Admiral Moe Aung, National Security Adviser and Union Minister for Ministry (1) at the office of Chairman of the State Administration Council of Myanmar, and discussed with him regional security cooperation under the BIMSTEC.

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He called on Min Naung, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, and discussed with him regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC, especially in the Agriculture and Food Security Sector, which is led by Myanmar.

During the visit, SG called on Lwin Oo, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and reviewed with him the matters related to BIMSTEC cooperation mechanisms, the work of BIMSTEC Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) on the future directions of BIMSTEC and the need for holding of the core and sectoral BIMSTEC meetings regularly.

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs reiterated Myanmar’s commitment and reassured SG of Myanmar’s full support to BIMSTEC.

Pandey met with Aung Kyaw Tun, Deputy Minister for Transport and Communications, and discussed regional cooperation under BIMSTEC, especially in enhancing regional connectivity including digital and people-to-people connectivity.

The sixth summit of the BIMSTEC will take place in Thailand in September 2024.

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BIMSTEC comprises seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It pursues regional cooperation in seven broad sectors: Agriculture and Food Security; Connectivity; Environment and Climate Change; People to People Contact; Science, Technology and Innovation; Security; and Trade, Investment and Development. The cooperation also covers 8 sub-sectors: Blue Economy, Mountain Economy, Energy, Disaster Management, Fisheries and Livestock, Poverty alleviation, Health and Human Resource Development.